Advance Orders Only

Advance Orders Only!

Berrien County Genealogical Society has received permission from Berrien County Historical Association to take advance orders for the recently updated Berrien Roots, Computerized Disc. These indexes allow researchers access to extensive indexes of Berrien County related genealogical records that are stored at the Court House Museum. Once the documents are identified you can order copies of the original documents from the museums County Archives.

The newest index added is 1,000 probate court minors estates from 1833 to the end of the 19th century.

Minors estate are estates involving children under the age of 21 who have lost
one or both parents, these children were left with real estate or other property they could not legally sell or use because of age. The county probate court would assign a guardian, most often a surviving parent to handle the affairs.

These extensive documents contain valuable research material. Probate court records usually stated children's birthdays, (remember Michigan did not start
keeping birth records till 1867); describe family relationships, older siblings, grandparents, parents who remarried after the death of a spouse, aunts and
uncles. The estate file concludes when the child reached legal age.

Also included on this disc are:

1831-1929    Marriage Records

1831-1935    Probate Court Deceased Estates

1840-1894    Naturalization Applications

The disc is available on a pre-order bases for $40.95

Printable order form

	Minors estate are estates involving children under the age of 21 who have lost one or both parents, these children were left with real estate or other property they could not legally sell or use because of age. The county probate court would assign a guardian, most often a surviving parent to handle the affairs.
	These extensive documents contain valuable research material. Probate court records usually stated children's birthdays, (remember Michigan did not start keeping birth records till 1867); describe family relationships, older siblings, grandparents, parents who remarried after the death of a spouse, aunts and uncles. The estate file concludes when the child reached legal age.

	1831-1929 Marriage Records
	1831-1935 Probate Court Deceased Estates
	1840-1894 Naturalization Applications